The rape trial of Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, commenced in Oslo district court, unfolding against a backdrop of new criminal charges against him and escalating scandal over his mother’s past communications with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The trial, expected to last seven weeks, sees Høiby facing 38 charges including four counts of rape, domestic abuse, illegal filming, and drug offenses. He has pleaded not guilty to the most serious allegations, particularly those involving sexual abuse, while admitting to some lesser charges such as physical assault and property damage. The case has drawn intense media attention both in Norway and internationally, partly due to Høiby’s connection to the royal family.
Just days before the trial began, Høiby was arrested again on Sunday evening on suspicion of assault, making threats with a knife, and violating a restraining order. Police requested he be held in custody for four weeks to prevent reoffending, and the court remanded him until March 2. This latest detention adds another layer of complexity to the proceedings, with his defense team planning to appeal the decision.
The timing is particularly sensitive for the Norwegian monarchy, as Crown Princess Mette-Marit faces mounting criticism following the release of U.S. Department of Justice files that show her extensive email correspondence with Epstein. In the messages, she describes him as “charmingly” and “soft-hearted,” and reveals she stayed at his Florida home for four days in 2013. Mette-Marit has acknowledged “poor judgment” and expressed regret, but the revelations have sparked public outrage and raised questions about her fitness to be queen.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has commented on the situation, agreeing with the crown princess’s assessment of poor judgment and urging those mentioned in the Epstein files to clarify their involvement. The scandal has prompted organizations like the Sex and Society foundation to distance themselves from Mette-Marit, withdrawing her patronage due to the incompatibility with their values.
Royal experts and commentators note that the Epstein emails have dealt a severe blow to the monarchy’s reputation, at least in the short term. Support for the royal family, which has historically been high, may be tested as Norwegians grapple with the dual crises of the trial and the princess’s associations. A routine parliamentary vote on abolishing the monarchy, held every four years, is scheduled for Tuesday, with some expecting increased support for republicanism amid the turmoil.
Høiby, who is not a formal member of the royal family as he was born before Mette-Marit’s marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, has maintained a low public profile. His trial is one of the largest in Norway in years, with heavy court restrictions to protect the identities of the four women involved. If convicted, he could face a prison sentence of at least ten years, with the outcome likely to have lasting implications for his personal life and the royal household’s public image.
As the trial progresses, all eyes will be on how the Norwegian justice system handles the high-profile case and how the royal family navigates the fallout. The convergence of legal drama and royal scandal has placed Norway in an unwelcome spotlight, with potential long-term consequences for the nation’s monarchy and its standing on the global stage.
